How to Lose Weight with Nigerian Diet

Posted by Felix Okoli on Friday February 15, 2013 at 11:20:48:

How do we know the Nigerian food to eat in order to lose weight? Answer to this question may be a bit difficult because our foods are not readily found on the web. On a general note, we try to avoid foods that are rich in carbohydrates and consume those rich in protein but without getting the desired results of weight loss we need.

What I think might be necessary is to eat less of fat accumulating foods and go for fat burning foods. It is true that most our traditional diets, with various kinds of foods are almost 100% fattening. The following is a list of various Nigerian foods you should reduce its intake, but do not totally avoid eating them, as is the habit some weight watchers.

1. Pounded yam: Popularly known as ‘Iyan’ in the South western part of Nigeria and Ji in the South East, contains a lot of starch and carbohydrate. If you want to keep your weight in check, try and reduce the intake of this food.

2. Amala: This has much starch too, so reduce its consumption.

3. Garri: Known as Cassava flour. This is known as good catalyst to having big and flabby tummy.

4. Tuwo shinkafa: Otherwise known as pounded rice in Hausa language, is more of carbohydrate as white rice.

5. Soups: So many Nigerian soups have a lot of oils, so avoid or reduce them when trying to shed some weight. Some soups like okro soup, when cooked without oil, is very good to add to your weight loss program, using Nigerian diet. You may also try eating soups with more water and vegetable base but low oil content too.

Others are: Ofada rice, white rice, as well as akpu, are full of carbohydrate so avoid them if you if you want to get in shape and avoid pot belly.

The following foods in the Nigerian diets are what you should increase in terms of consumption:

1. Beans: Has high amount of protein, which is a building block of muscle cells and its repairs. Beans are also known to be fat burning food.

2. Fish: Eat a lot of it, as it has high protein content and essential oils which is good for heart health.

3. Fruits like water melon, oranges Bananas, apples are good to eat in large amount without gaining extra weight.

4. Vegetables: Cook and eat with very little oil in it. They are high in fibre.

5. Chicken and Turkey is good source of protein but remove the skin before consumption.

6. Ukpa is rich in protein. It’s a fruit of Igbo language origin.

7. Pap: Called Akamu in Igbo and Ogi in Yoruba. This food sold locally is a very healthy source of food being made from corn. It contains carbohydrates, fat and Protein in the right proportions for a healthy body.

8. Finally, Bean cake known as moi-moi in Yoruba land. It is good as well for weight watchers.

If you desire to lose weight, especially belly fat , take the above food to eat and food to reduce its intake into consideration. Follow the Nigerian diet listed and keep fit and trim.